Latvian Higher League
Country | Latvia |
---|---|
Confederation | UEFA (Europe) |
Founded | 1927 |
Number of teams | 8 |
Level on pyramid | 1 |
Relegation to | Latvijas 1. līga |
Domestic cup(s) |
Latvian Cup Latvian Supercup |
International cup(s) |
Champions League Europa League |
Current champions |
Spartaks Jūrmala (2016) |
Most championships | Skonto (15) |
Website |
www www |
2016 Latvian Higher League |
The SynotTip Latvian Higher League (Latvian: SynotTip Virslīga) is a semi-professional football league and the top tier of association football in Latvia and is organised by the Latvian Football Federation. The new season kicks off in mid-March of every year, and runs until early November. There are no games in winter because of the harsh climate. From 2005 until 2011, the league was sponsored by the telecommunications operator LMT, naming the league LMT Virslīga. In 2012 the league was reorganised in partnership with the NGO "Latvijas Futbola virslīga",[1] adopting the NGO's name. Before the current season in March 2013, the league signed a sponsorship deal with the microfinancing company SMScredit.lv and acquired its current name SMScredit.lv Virslīga.[2] In March 2016, it was announced that the Virslīga would be sponsored by SynotTip on a three-year contract.[3]
League format
From the first season back in 1991 to 2007, there were eight clubs in the Virslīga. During the course of the season each club played all the other clubs four times, twice at their home stadium and twice at that of their opponents, completing a total of 28 games.
After the 2007 season the league increased from eight to ten sides.[4] In 2008 each side played the others four times.
At the end of the season, the lowest placed team are automatically relegated into Traffic 1. liga, and the winner of the Traffic 1. liga automatically takes their place. The second lowest placed team in Virslīga and the second team of 1. liga play two matches for a place in the Virslīga the following season. The winner of Virslīga, the champion of Latvia, plays in the UEFA Champions League qualifying round. The second and third placed clubs play in the UEFA Europa League qualifying games.[5]
Clubs (2016)
Source:[6]
Club |
---|
BFC Daugavpils |
Jelgava |
Liepāja |
Metta / LU |
Riga |
Rīgas FS |
Spartaks Jūrmala |
Ventspils |
Titles by year
Riga Football League
|
|
Football Championship 1922–1926
|
Virsliga 1927–1944
|
|
Football Championship of Latvian SSR 1941–1990
|
|
Since independence
Season | Winner | Wins | Remarks | Runner-up |
---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | Skonto FC | 1 (2) | Also Cup Winners | RAF Jelgava |
1993 | Skonto FC | 2 (3) | Olimpija Rīga | |
1994 | Skonto FC | 3 (4) | Undefeated | RAF Jelgava |
1995 | Skonto FC | 4 (5) | Undefeated & Cup Winners | Dinaburg FC |
1996 | Skonto FC | 5 (6) | Daugava Rīga | |
1997 | Skonto FC | 6 (7) | Undefeated & Cup Winners | Daugava Rīga |
1998 | Skonto FC | 7 (8) | Also Cup Winners | FHK Liepājas Metalurgs |
1999 | Skonto FC | 8 (9) | FHK Liepājas Metalurgs | |
2000 | Skonto FC | 9 (10) | Also Cup Winners | FK Ventspils |
2001 | Skonto FC | 10 (11) | Also Cup Winners | FK Ventspils |
2002 | Skonto FC | 11 (12) | Also Cup Winners | FK Ventspils |
2003 | Skonto FC | 12 (13) | FHK Liepājas Metalurgs | |
2004 | Skonto FC | 13 (14) | FHK Liepājas Metalurgs | |
2005 | FHK Liepājas Metalurgs | 1 (1) | Skonto FC | |
2006 | FK Ventspils | 1 (1) | FHK Liepājas Metalurgs | |
2007 | FK Ventspils | 2 (2) | Also Cup Winners | SK Liepājas Metalurgs |
2008 | FK Ventspils | 3 (3) | SK Liepājas Metalurgs | |
2009 | SK Liepājas Metalurgs | 2 (2) | FK Ventspils | |
2010 | Skonto FC | 14 (15) | FK Ventspils | |
2011 | FK Ventspils | 4 (4) | Also Cup Winners | FK Liepājas Metalurgs |
2012 | FC Daugava | 1 (1) | Skonto FC | |
2013 | FK Ventspils | 5 (5) | Also Cup Winners | Skonto FC |
2014 | FK Ventspils | 6 (6) | Skonto FC | |
2015 | FK Liepāja | 1 (1) | Skonto FC | |
2016 | FK Spartaks Jūrmala | 1 (1) | FK Jelgava | |
* Virslīga Championships (Total Latvian Football Championships) Up to 1927, the winners of the First Division of the Football League were the Latvian Football Champions. From 1945 till 1991, the winners of the First Division of the Football League were the Latvian SSR Football Champions. Tournament Cancelled due to Soviet Occupation. Tournament Interrupted due to Soviet Invasion. |
Titles by club
Club | Winner | Runner-up | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Skonto Rīga | 15 | 5 | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010 |
ASK Rīga | 11 | 5 | 1932, 1942, 1943, 1950, 1952, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 |
Sarkanais Metalurgs Liepāja | 9 | 4 | 1946, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1958 |
RFK Rīga | 8 | 6 | 1924, 1925, 1926, 1930, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1940 |
Olimpija Liepāja | 7 | 8 | 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933, 1936, 1938, 1939 |
VEF Rīga | 6 | 7 | 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1983 |
Ventspils | 6 | 5 | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014 |
Elektrons Rīga | 4 | 4 | 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985 |
Torpedo Rīga | 3 | 2 | 1984, 1986, 1987 |
Liepājas Metalurgs | 2 | 8 | 2005, 2009 |
RAF Jelgava | 2 | 4 | 1988, 1989 |
Enerģija Rīga | 2 | 2 | 1976, 1977 |
Ķīmiķis Daugavpils | 2 | 2 | 1978, 1980 |
Kaiserwald Rīga | 2 | – | 1922, 1923 |
ESR Rīga | 2 | – | 1966, 1967 |
Venta Ventspils | 1 | 2 | 1969 |
Žmiļova Komanda | 1 | 1 | 1948 |
Starts Brocēni | 1 | 1 | 1968 |
Jūrnieks Rīga | 1 | 1 | 1972 |
Dinamo Rīga | 1 | – | 1945 |
Darba Rezerves Rīga | 1 | – | 1955 |
RER Rīga | 1 | – | 1959 |
Gauja Valmiera | 1 | – | 1990 |
Daugava Daugavpils | 1 | – | 2012 |
Liepāja | 1 | – | 2015 |
Spartaks Jūrmala | 1 | – | 2016 |
- Bold Clubs playing in Virslīga.
- Italics Clubs no longer exist or joined to another club.
References
- ↑ "About Virslīga". Biedrība Latvijas Futbola Virslīga. Futbolavirsliga.lv. Retrieved 16 June 2013. (Latvian)
- ↑ "SMScredit.lv – Latvian football Higher league general sponsor!". Biedrība Latvijas Futbola Virslīga. Futbolavirsliga.lv. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ↑ "Virslīga ar "SynotTip" noslēdz vērienīgāko līgumu līgas vēsturē" (in Latvian). Sportacentrs.com. 10 March 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
- ↑ Mike Dryomin (14 March 2008). "Latvia 2007". RSSSF. Retrieved 23 July 2012.
- ↑ Hartmanis, Martins (2007-12-01). "LMT Virslīga new season calendar published". Latvian Football Federation. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
- ↑ "Virsliga". Soccerway. Perform. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ↑ "Latvia - List of Champions". RSSSF.
- ↑ Jared Grellet (10 November 2011). "Ventspils and Flora claim respective titles". The Baltic Times. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
External links
- One Nil Up – Digital Magazine focusing on football in the Baltic States
- Association Virsliga at futbolavirsliga.tv (Latvian)
- Current Virsliga table at eurorivals
- Virsliga fixtures, including kick off times, at worldfootball.net
- Latvia – List of Champions, RSSSF.com